Frankfort-Schuyler teacher guilty of touching ex-student, 15

A Frankfort-Schuyler middle school teacher has been found guilty of sexually touching one of his former students when she was 15, prosecutors said.

A Frankfort-Schuyler middle school teacher has been found guilty of sexually touching one of his former students when she was 15, prosecutors said.

Michael Loiacano, a seventh-grade English teacher, was convicted Wednesday night of forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanor charges, after an all-day trial in Herkimer Town Court, Herkimer County District Attorney Jeffrey Carpenter said.

Loiacano's punishment will not be known until he is sentenced at 1:30 p.m. on March 11 by town Justice Karl Manne. Loiacano will have to register as a sex offender, prosecutors said, and the possible punishments he could face range from up to one year in jail to three years of probation and a fine.

Loiacano was placed on administrative leave after he was accused in August of touching the private parts of the former female student in a school classroom sometime between December 2010 and January 2011, Carpenter said.

Loiacano, who was represented by attorney Les Lewis, denied the allegation at trial.

After the jury's verdict, Frankfort village police Chief Ronald Petrie said he believes the teacher's conviction sends an important message to the public.

"I think it's important for any young female victims to come forward, report allegations of this type and let the system work for them," Petrie said Thursday. "This shows that the system does work and will back up the victims of sex abuse."